New York @ Toronto preview
Rogers Centre
Last Meeting ( Aug 22, 2013 ) Toronto 3, NY Yankees 5
The New York Yankees hope to pick up where they left off against the Blue Jays when the American League East rivals begin a three-game series in Toronto on Monday. New York swept a four-game set against Toronto at home last week to improve to 12-1 in the season series. The Yankees needed 11 innings to salvage the finale of their three-game road series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, as Alfonso Soriano hit a one-out double, stole third and scored on Curtis Granderson's sacrifice fly.
The triumph helped New York remain close in the playoff race as it remained within seven games of the first-place Boston Red Sox in the American League East and 3 1/2 of the Oakland Athletics for the second wild-card spot. Toronto rallied for two runs in the ninth inning on the road Sunday to end its seven-game losing streak and avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the woeful Houston Astros. The late uprising supported a strong eight-inning performance by Mark Buehrle and helped the Blue Jays conclude their 10-game road trip with a 2-8 record.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, YES (New York), RSN (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Phil Hughes (4-12, 4.88 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH R.A. Dickey (9-12, 4.49)
Hughes was solid against Toronto on Tuesday, allowing two runs in six innings, but came away with a no-decision as his winless streak reached eight starts. The 27-year-old, who hasn't been victorious since defeating the Twins in Minnesota on July 2, is 0-5 during his drought despite yielding three earned runs or fewer four times. Hughes is 5-5 with a 4.80 ERA in 25 career games - 18 starts - versus the Blue Jays.
Dickey also has had trouble getting in the win column lately, going 1-4 over his last nine outings. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner tossed an eight-inning complete game at New York on Wednesday but took the loss after surrendering four runs and six hits. The 38-year-old Dickey is 3-3 lifetime against the Yankees with a 3.44 ERA in 12 contests, including six starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. New York SS Derek Jeter (calf) is expected to be activated from the disabled list Monday. He has appeared in only five games this season due to injuries but is six hits away from tying Eddie Collins (3,314) for ninth place on the all-time list.
2. The Blue Jays have lost four of their last five series.
3. Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez is just 3-for-19 over his last six contests.
PREDICTION: Blue Jays 5, Yankees 4